Clay-grinding mill



(No Model.) 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. E. LONG. CLAY GRINDING MILL. N 428,172, Patented May 20, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. E; LONG. CLAY GRINDING MILL.

No. 428,172. Patented May 20, 1890.-

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(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 3.

H. E. LONG. CLAY GRINDING MILL. No. 428,172. Patented May 20. 1890.

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A TTORNEYJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEZEKIAH E. LONG, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAY-GRINDING MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 428,172, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed February 5, 1890. Serial No. 339,310. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HEZEKIAH E. LONG, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clay-Grinding Mills; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the figures of reference marked thereon.

Heretofore clay-mills have been constructed consisting of a pair of horizontal rolls geared together in such manner as that their upper surfaces revolve toward each other, and these rolls are provided with a hopper into which the crude clay is thrown, to be caught bythe' rolls and ground in its passage between them, being discharged on the under side of the rolls into a trough or receptacle placed beneath them for that purpose. In such construction of clay-mills great trouble has been experienced in properly feeding the rolls, by reason of the clay adhering to the sides of the hopper and failing at times to sink within the grip of the rolls, and to overcome that difficulty the workmen are often compelled to force the clay downward into the bite of the rolls by means of shovels or other tools, and oftentimes in so doing the'shovel or other implement used is caught by the rolls, drawn through, and completely destroyed. Another disadvantage arises from the fact that the clay in passing between the rolls is laminated or drawn out into the form of a long broad sheet, comparatively glazed on both sides, and falls into the receptacle beneath in an irregular series of laminated folds, and in that condition taken from the mill and molded into brick, producing an article having irregular stratification, instead of being, as it should, perfectlyamorphous or homogeneous throu ghout.

My invention consists, in combination with the grinding-rolls of a clay-mill, of a means or mechanical device whereby the clay is agitated and fed from the hopper and forced between the rolls by a positive mechanical action of the machine.

My invention also comprises a means whereby the broad sheet of clay as it comes from the rolls is caught, ground, and thoroughly mixedby means of a series of fingers attached fingers of the opposite bar, so that the sheet of clay as it emerges from the rolls is torn into fine fragmentary pieces and thoroughly mixed.

My invention also comprises a means wh ereby the clay after being acted upon by said fingers is received, carried forward, and discharged from the machine by an endless screw or spiral rotary conveyor, all of said parts being so geared to the rolls as to Work with different degrees of speed and in unison therewith, whereby the clay is carried from the hopper to and between the grinding-rolls, seized, and thoroughly mixed on its issuance therefrom, and subsequently conveyed intoa trough or chute leading from the machine.

To enable others skilled in the art to thoroughly understand and put in practice my invention, I will proceed to describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents an end View or rear elevation of my improved clay-mill. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the opposite end. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same through the center of the machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a top view of the entire mill. Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view of one of the reciprocating bars provided with projecting teeth or fingers. Fig. 7 is a top view of both of said fingered bars arranged in proper relative position and each attached to its respective crank or eccentric. Fig. 8 represents a horizontal cylindrical bar or rock-shaft provided with proj ectin g fingers arranged within the hopper on a line between and parallel with the rolls.

To construct my improved clay-mill, I prepare a substantial frame 1, provided on opposite ends thereof with suitable bearings 2, in which rest the journals 3 of two horizontal metallic rolls 40f suitable length and diameter, which rolls lare geared together by means of toothed wheels 5, so that their upper converging surfaces shall revolve toward each other. Above and sloping downward between these rolls is affixed andheld stationary by suitable means a hopper 6 for the reception of clay in its crude or unworked condition as it comes from thebank. Longitudinally and centrally located within this hopper (l is arranged a rock-shaft 7, having its bearings in each end of the hopper. This rock-shaft is provided with three rows of fingers 8, arranged therein and projecting therefrom at equidistant points along its surface. Two of the rows oscillate in ahorizontal plane and the third row in a vertical plane, or toward the point of separation between the rolls. One end of this rock-shaft 7 projects a short distance outside of the hopper 6, and is fitted with aproj cctingarm 9, ri gidlysecu red thereto. To the extreme end of this arm 9 is attached a link l0, connecting the same to a wrist-pin 11, made fast to the hub 12 of one of the gearwheels on the axis of one of the crushing rolls, and so set with relation thereto as to act with a erank-like motion and impart a partial revolution, first in one direction and then the other, to said rock-shaft 7, producing a requisite movement of the several fingers thereon to effectuate a stirring and forcing downward toward the rolls of such clay as may be placed within the hopper. The opposite projecting journal of the roll is provided with a pulley 13, whereby power may be applied to the same through theinstrn mentality of a belt orother means. Its companion roll at the same end of the machine has attached thereto alarge toothed wheel 14-, meshing into a smaller wheel 15 on the end of a projecting shaft 16, that extends lengthwise of the machine, the opposite end of the shaft 1b being also provid ed with a m i ler-wheel 17, the teeth of which are adapted to mesh into a similar but smaller wheel 1S on the end of a crank-shaft 1!), arranged at right angles to the axis of the rolls. This crankshaft l!) is supported in suit able bearings 20, having between them two cran ks :0 arranged with respect to each other as to work in opposite directions. Connected to each crank 21. by means of a suitable yoke 22 is a horizontally-arranged bar 23, extending underneath the rolls, so as to move parallel to each other, but at a little distance apart, and the inner faces of these bars 23 are provided, respectively, with a series of fingers 25, orshort projecting rods, the series of fingers on one bar being so arranged as to pass freely between the lingers of the opposite bar without touching them. A rapid rectilinear reciprocating action is imparted to the bars 23 by means of the cranks 21 aforesaid, to which they are connected. The large gear-wheel ii, on one of the rolls outside of its sumiortlng-frame 1, also meshes into a second or smaller wheel 26, and this in turn with a still smaller toothed wheel 27 on the ln'ojeeting end or shaft of a spiral conveyer 28, that has its rotation in a semicircular trough 2.), underneath the aforesaid reciprocating bars 23, which semicircular trough 2.) is open at its opposite end, and by a downwardly-inelined projection constitutes a spout 30 for delivery of the clay.

Operation: My improved clay-mill having been constructed as described and connected by a belt or other means to a steam-engineer other source of power, clay in its crude or unpulverized condition is to be shoveled or otherwise placed in the hopper. The action of the fingered rock-shaft therein is such as to agitate and forcibly feed the clay downward between the converging grindingsurfaces of the large rolls, between which it is drawn downward and delivered below them in the form of an attenuated sheet that is received, disintegrated, and torn into fragments by the action of the fingers on the rapidly-reciprocati n g bars and delivered to the spiral screw conveyor in the semicirculartrough beneath, and from thence by the action of said conveyer delivered into the inclined spout as a conglomerate mass of finely-grou n d clay so it able for immediate n'lolding into the form of brick or other purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a clay-mill, the combination,with a pair of grimling-rolls, of a hopper provided with a longitudinal rock-shaft therein and a series of fingers projecting outward from the surface of said rock-shaft, so as to engage the clay and by positive movement feed it to and between the rolls, a projecting arm on one end of said rock-shaft, and a link connecting the same to a crank-pin or wrist attached to one of said rolls, whereby a proper rocking movement of the shaft and fingers is ion-ought about during the action of the machine.

3. A pair of parallel grimling-rolls, a hopper arranged above them, and beneath said rolls one or more rectilinear reciprocating bars armed with projecting teeth, cranks for operating said reciprocating bars, and suitable gearing whereby they are connected to the crushing-rolls and receive action there'- from.

3. A pair of parallel grinding-rolls, a hop per arranged above the same, a rock-shaf t armed with projecting fingers within said hopper, a pair of reciprocating bars provided with projecting fingers on theiradjacent faces beneath the rolls, a trough and a spiral conveyor therein, the said several moving parts being connected to the rolls by suitable gearing by which each part is given a requisite degree of speed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of February, A. D. 1800.

IIEZEKIAII E. LONG. \Vitnesses:

A. G. .ToimsToN, \VM. METQHEN. 

